Membrane and sensor for underground tank venting system
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling vapor emissions from an underground fuel storage tank, comprising:
- associating a mass flow sensor with a vapor recovery membrane positioned in a vent associated with the underground fuel storage tank;
measuring hydrocarbon mass flowing through the vent with the mass flow sensor; and
returning recovered fuel vapors from said vapor recover membrane to the underground fuel storage tank.
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Abstract
A fueling environment having a vent on an underground fuel storage tank may be improved by adding a mass flow meter in conjunction with a vapor recovery membrane in a tank vent. The mass flow meter measures an amount of vapor that passes through the vent and thus allows alarms to be generated if the vapors passing through the vent exceed a predetermined level or an efficiency of the membrane drops below a predetermined threshold. Measurements from the mass flow meter may be provided to a site controller or a remote location for further analysis.
63 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method of controlling vapor emissions from an underground fuel storage tank, comprising:
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associating a mass flow sensor with a vapor recovery membrane positioned in a vent associated with the underground fuel storage tank;
measuring hydrocarbon mass flowing through the vent with the mass flow sensor; and
returning recovered fuel vapors from said vapor recover membrane to the underground fuel storage tank.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A vapor recovery system, comprising:
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a vent adapted for use in releasing pressure in an underground storage tank to atmosphere;
a vapor recovery membrane associated with said vent;
a mass flow sensor associated with said vapor recovery membrane for measuring vapor passing through said vent; and
a hydrocarbon return pipe for returning said vapor to the underground fuel storage tank. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A fueling environment, comprising:
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a fuel dispenser;
a fuel storage tank fluidly connected to said fuel dispenser;
a vent operatively connected to said fuel storage tank;
a vapor recovery membrane associated with said vent;
a first mass flow meter positioned downstream of said vapor recovery membrane in said vent;
a controller for determining an amount of hydrocarbons passing through said vent based on a first output from said first mass flow meter; and
a vapor return element for returning hydrocarbons recovered by said vapor recovery membrane to the fuel storage tank. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of controlling vapor emissions from an underground fuel storage tank, comprising:
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associating a mass flow sensor with a vapor recovery membrane positioned in a vent associated with an underground fuel storage tank;
measuring hydrocarbon mass flowing through the vent with the mass flow sensor; and
reselling recovered vapors to an entity associated with the underground fuel storage tank.
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35. A method of controlling vapor emissions from an underground fuel storage tank, comprising:
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associating a mass flow sensor with a vapor recovery membrane positioned in a vent associated with the underground fuel storage tank;
measuring hydrocarbon mass flowing through the vent with the mass flow sensor; and
associating a second mass flow sensor with the membrane. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A vapor recovery system, comprising:
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a vent adapted for use in releasing pressure in an underground storage tank to atmosphere;
a vapor recovery membrane associated with said vent; and
a mass flow sensor associated with said vapor recovery membrane for measuring vapor passing through said vent;
said mass flow sensor comprises a hydrocarbon sensor and an inferential vapor flow meter.
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40. A vapor recovery system, comprising:
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a vent adapted for use in releasing pressure in an underground storage tank to atmosphere;
a vapor recovery membrane associated with said vent; and
a mass flow sensor associated with said vapor recovery membrane for measuring vapor passing through said vent; and
a second mass flow sensor associated with said vapor recovery membrane. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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44. A fueling environment, comprising:
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a fuel dispenser;
a fuel storage tank fluidly connected to said fuel, dispenser;
a vent operatively connected to said fuel storage tank;
a vapor recovery membrane associated with said vent;
a first mass flow meter positioned downstream of said vapor recovery membrane in said vent;
a controller for determining an amount of hydrocarbons passing through said vent based on a first output from said first mass flow meter; and
a second mass flow meter positioned upstream of said vapor recovery membrane in said vent and providing a second output to said controller. - View Dependent Claims (45)
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Specification